Adopt a School

Adopt a School is a comprehensive fire safety curriculum program designed for grade one students. It presents six fire safety messages using classroom lessons, activities and home connections. It provides schools with maximum flexibility so that presentations can be taught as stand-alone fire safety units by fire crews and is easily integrated in language arts core curriculum lessons by teachers. Teaching students how to prevent fires and how to respond properly in fire situations are skills students in adopted classes will remember and practice throughout their lives. Our goal is to teach students to recognize and avoid fire risks, helping them lead fuller and more productive lives and reaching beyond the classroom to families in this process.

Learn Not To Burn

Learn Not to Burn is fire safety education program designed for grade three students and is based on information that reflects fires in Pickering. The program includes the video 'Sparky and the Runaway Robot' and props that show the top causes of fires in our community and how they can be prevented. It challenges students to prepare and practice home escape planning with fun rewards for positive action.

The Arson Prevention Program for Children (TAPP-C)

TAPP-C is an assessment and intervention program aimed at reducing the incidence of youth fire-setting in the community. TAPP-C is based on the premise that for most youth, fire-setting is a behavioural problem that can be corrected with a combination of education and psychological counselling. Fire play is when a child puts themselves or others in danger by playing with fire materials such as matches or lighters. Pickering Fire Services plays a key role in the identification and referral of youth fire-setters. The program focuses on educating children aged 2-17 about appropriate fire safety behaviours. According to the Centre for Addiction & Mental Health, Clarke Division, a follow-up survey of some of these children indicated that 70% have not continued to set fires. Contact us, or Durham Region at 905.436.6754 for more information or to set up an appointment.

FireSafe Pickering

FireSafe Pickering is a proactive fire education campaign that runs in the spring and fall each year in Pickering. The goal is to educate residents on the probability of fires happening, the most common causes of home fires and a call to action so residents can protect their family from fire. The campaign engages more than 4000 households per year. The FireSafe Pickering campaign consists of two phases which include brochures containing fire statistics delivered via Canada Post and firefighter's door-to-door smoke and carbon monoxide inspection service. For more information visit the FireSafe Pickering web page.

Older and Wiser

Statistics show that adults over age 65 are at the highest risk of being killed or injured in a fire. Although most older adults continue to live independent, productive lives, the natural aging process can make them particularly vulnerable to fire.  Common fire risks for older adults include careless smoking, careless cooking and improper placement of space heaters. Older and Wiser is designed to be delivered by fire departments with the assistance of community groups, home support workers and friends and families of older adults.

Pickering Fire Services is proud to participate in the following Provincial campaigns

  • Emergency Preparedness Week
  • Fire Prevention Week
  • Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week
  • 12 Days of Holiday Fire Safety

Presentations we offer include:

  • Community Helper
  • Fire Extinguisher Training
  • Fire Safety in the Workplace
  • Home Alone Awareness
  • Babysitter Safety Awareness
  • Girl Guides and Scouts Fire Safety Awareness

Fire Station tours are available at all Pickering Fire Stations. Tours are limited to 20 children at a time, and must be accompanied by adults. View the request form.

The Office of the Fire Marshal website provides pamphlets, information sheets and public service announcements on various fire safety topics such as smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, home escape planning, fire safety for older adults, cooking and electrical fire safety and tips on how to have a fire safe home.

Sparky and friendThe Sparky website has fun and easy-to-understand fire prevention games, activities, and information for young children.

Contact us for more information on the Public Education Programs and Presentations that we offer.